geslachtnaam

Geslachtnaam, often called genus name in taxonomy, is the taxonomic rank that groups together species that are closely related. In biological nomenclature, the geslachtnaam is the first part of the scientific binomial name, with the second part being the soortnaam (species epithet). For example, in Homo sapiens, Homo is the geslachtnaam and sapiens the soortnaam; in Canis lupus, Canis is the geslachtnaam.

Characteristics and usage

Genus names are typically written with an initial capital letter and are usually set in italics in scientific writing. They denote a group of related species that share common characteristics and a common evolutionary origin. A single genus may contain multiple species; conversely, the same species epithet can appear in different genera, but the full binomial name must be unique within its nomenclatural code.

Nomenclature and codes

Genus names are governed by codes of nomenclature appropriate to the organism. For animals, the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) applies; for plants, algae, and fungi, the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) applies. These codes regulate priority, publication, latinization, and other rules to ensure stability and consistency. Many genus names are Latin or latinized nouns or adjectives and may reflect a characteristic, a person, or a place. The family name often derives from a type genus, a concept that anchors higher taxonomic groups (for example, the Felidae family name is linked to the type genus Felis).

Revisions

Taxonomic revisions can move species between genera as new data become available. When that happens, the geslachtnaam of a species changes while the species epithet may be retained or altered according to the rules of the relevant code. Authorship and year are typically cited to indicate the original naming.